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Module Handbook
Master of Science Economics
Edition: September 2020
2
2
Content
1.The program of studies ...................................................................................................... 6
1.1. Outline ....................................................................................................................... 6
1.2. General program structure ......................................................................................... 6
1.3. Recommended Study Plan for Master of Science Economics (MEP) ......................... 8
1.4. Job perspectives ...................................................................................................... 10
2.Organization of the studies ............................................................................................. 10
2.1 Type of courses ............................................................................................................... 10
2.2 Registration ..................................................................................................................... 11
2.3 Performance records ....................................................................................................... 11
2.4. Preliminary Exam ........................................................................................................... 12
3.Overview of the modules ................................................................................................. 13
1st year: Mandatory courses: ................................................................................................ 13
Economic Theory and Policy ............................................................................................ 13
Quantitative Economics .................................................................................................... 13
Specialization mandatory course ...................................................................................... 13
2nd year: Elective courses: ................................................................................................... 13
Internal electives .............................................................................................................. 13
External electives ............................................................................................................. 13
Areas of studies / Profiles: ..................................................................................................... 14
Profile 1: Economics and Politics ...................................................................................... 14
Profile 2: Finance ............................................................................................................. 15
4.Module description .......................................................................................................... 17
4.1. Block: Economic Theory and Policy ......................................................................... 17
Advanced Macroeconomics I ............................................................................................ 17
Advanced Macroeconomics II ........................................................................................... 18
Advanced Microeconomics I ............................................................................................. 19
Advanced Microeconomics II ............................................................................................ 20
Economic Policy and Public Choice .................................................................................. 21
4.2. Block: Quantitative Economics ................................................................................ 22
3
3
Computational Economics: Non-linear Optimization ......................................................... 22
Intermediate Econometrics ............................................................................................... 23
4.3. Specialization Courses ............................................................................................ 25
Constitutional Economics ................................................................................................. 25
Principles of Finance ........................................................................................................ 26
4.4. Elective Courses ...................................................................................................... 27
Advances in Empirical Finance ......................................................................................... 27
Advanced Mathematics for Economics and Finance......................................................... 28
Advanced Topics in Econometrics .................................................................................... 29
Algorithm Design and Software Engineering..................................................................... 30
Basic Income and Social Justice in the Social Contract Laboratory [SoCoLab] (Seminar) 31
Behavioral Economics ...................................................................................................... 33
Business Analytics............................................................................................................ 34
Business Intelligence with R and Python .......................................................................... 35
Business Analytics (Seminar): Webscraper Development and Data Analysis using R and
Python .............................................................................................................................. 37
Computational Finance ..................................................................................................... 38
Credit Risk ........................................................................................................................ 39
Current Issues in Finance and Monetary Economics (Bundesbank-Seminar) ................... 40
Development Microeconometrics Using STATA ............................................................... 41
Dynamic Fiscal Policy ....................................................................................................... 42
Econometric Risk Management in Finance ....................................................................... 43
Economics of Social Justice ............................................................................................. 45
Electronic Markets ............................................................................................................ 47
Empirical Research Seminar in Institutional Economics ................................................... 49
Finance, climate change, and the global energy transition................................................ 50
Financial Econometrics .................................................................................................... 51
Futures and Options ......................................................................................................... 53
Global Economic Governance .......................................................................................... 54
Interest Rate Theory and Applications .............................................................................. 55
International Monetary Economics I .................................................................................. 56
International Monetary Economics II ................................................................................. 57
Introduction to Empirical Economics Using STATA........................................................... 58
Introduction to Systematic Investment Strategies (Seminar) ............................................. 59
Labor Economics Using R ................................................................................................ 61
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4
Mathematical Methods for Economics and Finance .......................................................... 62
Methods in Dynamic Macroeconomics ............................................................................. 63
Migration Economics ........................................................................................................ 64
Modern Econometrics using R .......................................................................................... 65
Portfolio Management ...................................................................................................... 66
Research Colloquium on Migration Empirics (Seminar) .................................................... 67
Selected Topics in Institutional Economics and International Economic Policy (Seminar) 68
Selected Topics in International and Development Economics (Seminar) ........................ 69
Seminar in Quantitative Finance ....................................................................................... 70
Seminar Series in Finance (Seminar) ............................................................................... 71
Statistical Learning ........................................................................................................... 72
The Economics of Terror .................................................................................................. 73
The Long Term Determinants of Economic Development ................................................. 74
The Political Economics of Information and Media ........................................................... 75
Time Series Analysis ........................................................................................................ 76
Topics in Macroeconomics ............................................................................................... 77
5. Exchange and Studying Abroad .................................................................................... 78
6. Master Thesis .................................................................................................................. 80
7. Advisory Services ........................................................................................................... 80
8. Further Information ......................................................................................................... 81
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Disclaimer:
The indications about the frequency at which the courses are taught are subject to
change. Changes and modifications are possible.
This version of the Module Handbook has not been approved by any official organ of the
Faculty. It is a preliminary version. Changes and modifications are possible.
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
6
1. The program of studies
The master’s program in Economics offers a broad and consecutive degree at an advanced
level with a focus on economic issues and methods. During the program, students will develop
distinct analytical skills and gain knowledge about current economic topics. They will be able to
identify, structure, and analyze problems from different economic, political, and social fields, as
well as find and present solutions to these problems. Students will gain professional skills and
thus will be able to successfully work in the fields of business, finance, policy-making, and
economic research.
1.1. Outline
Degree: Master of Science
Study form: Consecutive study with a second occupational qualified final degree
Begin of studies: Winter semester (1. term); Winter- and Summer semester (in terms)
Standard period of Study:
4 Semesters
Degree requirements:
120 ECTS-Points
Specializations: Economics and Politics
Finance
Information Systems and Network Economics (Profile temporarily
unavailable in Winter Semester 2020/21)
Study Abroad: Recommended in the third and/or fourth semester. Both the faculty and the university offer extensive exchange programs. Alternatively, studying abroad can also be organized by yourself. Advice regarding study abroad from the foreign office of economics can be found in Chapter 5.
Language: English
1.2. General program structure
The Master of Science in Economics is a two-year program with a total of 120 ECTS points.
After a general introduction, the focus transitions to applied economics, which is also handled
within the field of basic research. The general structure of the Master of Science in Economics
at the University of Freiburg is discussed below.
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
7
The degree program is divided into two areas: a basic area consisting of mandatory courses
and a specialization area.
Basic Area. The basic area consists of 30 ECTS-Points and includes the block “Economic
Theory and Policy” and the block “Quantitative Economics”.
Students must complete all the modules from the Quantitative Economics block:
Computational Economics (6 ECTS)
Intermediate Econometrics (10 ECTS)
Students must also complete four of the five modules from the Economic Theory and Policy
Block:
Advanced Microeconomics I (6 ECTS)
Advanced Microeconomics II (6 ECTS)
Advanced Macroeconomics I (6 ECTS)
Advanced Macroeconomics II (6 ECTS)
Economic Policy and Public Choice (6 ECTS)
Specialization Area. A total of 6 ECTS points must be acquired in the block “Specialization
Courses”. The specialization module for each profile is:
Economic & Politics: Constitutional Economics / Global Economic Governance (6
ECTS)
Finance: Principles of Finance
Information Systems and Network Economics (Profile unavailable for 2020 intake)
Elective Area: A total of 44 ECTS points must be completed with modules chosen by the
student from the different courses offered by the Department of Economics. Most elective
modules provide 4 or 6 ECTS points. The elective area is comprised of two types of courses:
Internal Elective Courses: A minimum of 32 ECTS points and a maximum of 44 ECTS points
must be acquired from internal elective courses. These modules are chosen by the student
and are related to their field of specialization.
External Elective Courses: A maximum of 12 ECTS points can be chosen from those
modules that are considered internal elective of the other Profiles.
The general structure of the Master of Science in Economics at the University of Freiburg is
shown in the following figure.
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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1.3. Recommended Study Plan for Master of Science Economics (MEP)
Sem.ECTS-
Pkte.
6 ECTS
Stand: 28.05.2011
Master Thesis (24 ECTS, 20 Weeks)
Elective courses
Economics &
Politics
44 ECTS
Recommended plan of studies for the Master of Science in Economics
120ECTS 30 ECTS 16 ECTS 74 ECTS 74 ECTS 74 ECTS
ca. 32
4
(SS)ca. 32
3
(WS)
24
2
(SS)
Advanced
Microeconomics II
and Advanced
Macroeconomics IIca. 32
1
(WS)
Advanced
Microeconomics I
and Advanced
Macroeconomics I
and Economic
Policy and Public
Choice
Computational
Economics
6 ECTS
Intermediate
Econometrics
10 ECTS
Constitutional
EconomicsPrinciples of Finance
Network Economics
and Electronic
Marktes
Elective Courses
Finance
44 ECTS
Elective Courses
Information Systems
and Network
Economics
44 ECTS
Economic Theory
and Policy (30
ECTS)
Quantitative
Economics (16
ECTS)
Profile 1
Economics &
Politics
Profile 2
Finance
Profile 3
ISNE
18 ECTS
6 ECTS 6 ECTS
12 ECTS
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
9
Explanation for the Study Plan:
Contact hours (SWS): Semesterwochenstunden (weekly hours per semester).
ECTS: Credit points according to the European Credit Transfer System
Mind: Mindestens (minimum requirement)
SS: Summer term (April 1 – September 30)
WS: Winter term (October 1 – March 31)
Please notice
The course schedule is a general recommendation for the organization of successful and
continuous studies. Individual preferences and changes are possible. The study regulations
are to be complied with. Additionally, the following points must be considered:
a. Modules can be consecutive with regards to content, e.g. lectures are often
succeeded by seminars in the next semester. Please compare with the individual
module descriptions
b. After 2 semesters, at least 30 ECTS points have to be acquired in order to ensure
successful progression of the studies. If the student is not able to fulfill the
requirements, he or she will lose the right to take the exams. This is not the case if
the student is not responsible for exceeding the deadline.
c. Frequency of courses: Mandatory courses are offered regularly. Some elective
courses are also offered regularly (every Winter Semester or every Summer
Semester). Several elective courses are offered irregularly, although courses of
similar content are offered regularly. Please check “Frequency taught” in each
module description. Please note that the indications about the frequency at which
the courses are taught are subject to change and modifications are possible.
For these reasons (a – c above), a carefully thought out and individual schedule for your
studies is highly recommended
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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1.4. Job perspectives
The aim of this program is to qualify students for positions in national and international
organizations and institutes. The program is designed specifically to provide graduates with
professional competence and knowledge of empiric methods.
The Economics & Politics profile, with its emphasis on economic policy analytics and
quantitative methods, qualifies graduates for employment at regulatory or policy-making
organizations, governmental and international institutions such as central banks, federal
ministries, the European Commission, international development agencies, economic policy
consultancies, and research institutes devoted to economic policy analysis.
The Finance profile, with its strong focus on quantitative finance, prepares students for careers
in the financial sector, particularly in the areas of risk analysis, portfolio management and
analysis, and development of derivatives, futures and options.
The quantitative skills acquired in the program also allow our students to succeed in careers
such as data science, data analytics, data mining and business analytics.
In addition, the degree provides an entry point for an academic career, doctoral studies, and
positions at research institutes.
2. Organization of the studies
During the program, students have to comply with various formalities regarding registration
and proof of successful exam results. The examination office of the Faculty of Economy is
responsible for the administration of these formalities.
2.1 Type of courses
There are three different types of courses. The most common type of courses is lectures.
Lectures take place weekly and students can register for the examination during the
examination period. Students do not have to register beforehand in order to attend the lecture
or the exercise sessions.
Seminars are restricted to smaller groups of students and usually require students to conduct
research-related tasks such as reviewing the literature, conducting research projects, writing
research papers and giving scientific presentations. Seminars do not require written
examinations but do require the preparation of written assignments (seminar papers) and oral
presentations. Topics courses provide students with an in-depth research experience and are
necessary for obtaining the master degree with honors.
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Lectures usually are worth 4 ECTS points. Sometimes lectures can are accompanied by
tutorial, an additional weekly session in which the concepts of the lecture are elaborated in a
more practical way, usually involving solving problem sets. Lectures accompanied by a tutorial
usually provide 6 ECTS points.
2.2 Registration
Attending courses:
Attending lectures generally does not require previous registration. Lectures are open to all
who want to attend them.
Some lectures might restrict participation to smaller groups, such as block lectures or those
requiring PC-Pool sessions or tutorials. To take part in a course with limited spaces available,
students must register directly. Registration usually takes place before the beginning of the
semester and information on the registration process is usually posted on the website of the
respective department.
Seminars and topic courses are restricted to small groups and usually require application
before the beginning of the semester. Details of the application process are usually posted on
the website of the respective department.
Registration for exams:
It is necessary to register via the online campus management system (HISinONE) for the
examinations of lectures. You can find all necessary information regarding deadlines and
procedures on the Economic Faculty examination office’s homepage or at the website of the
Master of Economics Program.
2.3 Performance records
You can only receive the ECTS points for a given module once you have successfully taken
all the required course-related examinations or fulfilled all the required achievements of that
course.
Program achievements:
Program achievements are individually written, oral or practical tasks that students fulfill during
the semester in the connection with their courses. These tasks can be written assignments or
journals. Students will be informed about the amount and type of program achievements at the
beginning of each module. Program achievements are evaluated, but not graded. However,
there are minimum requirements that have to be fulfilled. The evaluation of these achievements
is usually not part of the final grade.
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Course-related exams:
Module exams are usually course-related. Students will be informed about the amount and
type of course-related exams in their module handbook and at the beginning of each module.
Oral exams are usually in the form of seminar presentations. Typical types of written exams
are tests, assignments or term papers.
The duration of a written test is usually calculated as 15 minutes per ECTS point earned, i.e.
6 ECTS points = 90 minute exam. The result is part of the final grade. The degree final grade
is the average of ECTS points earned, consisting of module grades and master thesis.
Timely registration is necessary in order to take the exam. If students take a module of choice
from a different faculty, these faculty’s course-related exam regulations apply.
2.4. Preliminary Exam
The program’s preliminary exam is passed when at least 30 ECTS points have been acquired
after the first two semesters. This ensures successful progress of the studies. If the student is
unable to fulfill the requirement, he or she will lose the right to take the exams. This is not the
case if the student is not responsible for exceeding the deadline.
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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3. Overview of the modules
Tip: With a click on the title of the module you will be linked to the detailed description of the module. From this page you will also return by clicking on the title of the module. A click on the section “Area of study/ Profiles” of the module description leads you back to the overview of the courses of the profile
.
1st year: Mandatory courses:
Economic Theory and Policy
ECTS Page
4 out of 5 Modules (one can be replaced with an elective course)
Advanced Macroeconomics I 6 17
Advanced Macroeconomics II 6 18
Advanced Microeconomics I 6 19
Advanced Microeconomics II 6 20
Economic Policy and Public Choice 6 21
Quantitative Economics
Computational Economics 6 22
Intermediate Econometrics 10 23
Specialization mandatory course
Constitutional Economics (for Economics & Politics specialization profile)
6 25
Principles of Finance (for Finance specialization profile) 6 26
2nd year: Elective courses:
Internal electives
ECTS Page
Internal elective modules: those elective modules of the own profile of specialization. A minimum of 32 ECTS and a maximum of 44 ECTS in internal elective modules must be attained.
External electives
ECTS Page
External elective modules: those elective modules of the other Profiles of specialization A maximum of 12 ECTS in external elective modules can be attained.
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Areas of studies / Profiles:
All modules in each profile can be taken by students of all Profiles, either as internal electives if the student belongs to that profile, or as external electives if the student is from another profile.
Profile 1: Economics and Politics
ECTS Page
Mandatory Course:
Constitutional Economics 6 25
Elective Courses in free choice of 44 ECTS
Advanced Mathematics for Economics and Finance 6 28
Advanced Topics in Econometrics 6 29
Basic Income and Social Justice in the Social Contract Laboratory (SoCo Lab) (Seminar)
6 31
Behavioral Economics 4 or 6 33
Current Issues in Finance and Monetary Economics (Bundesbank-Seminar)
4 40
Development Microeconometrics using STATA 6 41
Dynamic Fiscal Policy 6 42
Econometric Risk Management in Finance 6 43
Economics of Social Justice 4 or 6 45
Electronic Markets 6 47
Empirical Research Seminar in Institutional Economics 6 49
Global Economic Governance 4 or 6 54
International Monetary Economics I 4 56
International Monetary Economics II 4or 6 57
Introduction to Empirical Economics Using STATA 4 58
Labor Economics Using R 4 61
Mathematical Methods for Economics and Finance 6 62
Methods in Dynamic Macroeconomics 6 63
Migration Economics 4 64
Modern Econometrics Using R 4 65
Research Colloquium on Migration Empirics (Seminar) 4 67
Selected Topics in Institutional Economics and International Economic Policy (Seminar)
6 68
Selected Topics in International and Development Economics (Seminar)
4 or 6 69
Statistical Learning 6 72
The Economics of Terror 4 or 6 73
The Long Term Determinants of Economic Development 4 or 6 74
The Political Economics of Information and Media 4 or 6 75
Time Series Analysis 6 76
Topics in Macroeconomics 6 77
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Profile 2: Finance
ECTS Page
Mandatory Course:
Principles of Finance 6 6
Elective Courses in free choice of 44 ECTS
Advances in Empirical Finance 6 27
Advanced Mathematics for Economics and Finance 6 28
Advanced Topics in Econometrics 6 29
Basic Income and Social Justice in the Social Contract Laboratory (SoCo Lab) (Seminar)
6 31
Behavioral Economics 4 or 6 33
Business Analytics 4 34
Business Analytics (Seminar): Business Intelligence with R and Python 6 35
Business Analytics (Seminar): Webscraper Development and Data Analysis using R and Python
6 37
Computational Finance 6 38
Credit Risk 6 39
Current Issues in Finance and Monetary Economics (Bundesbank-Seminar)
4 40
Dynamic Fiscal Policy 6 42
Econometric Risk Management in Finance 4 43
Economics of Social Justice 4 or 6 45
Electronic Markets 6 47
Finance, climate change, and the global energy transition 6 50
Financial Econometrics 6 51
Futures and Options 6 53
Global Economic Governance 4 or 6 54
Interest Rate Theory and Applications 6 55
International Monetary Economics I 4 56
International Monetary Economics II 6 57
Introduction to Systematic Investment Strategies (Seminar) 4 or 6 58
Labor Economics Using R 4 59
Mathematical Methods for Economics and Finance 6 62
Methods in Dynamic Macroeconomics 6 63
Modern Econometrics Using R 4 65
Portfolio Management 6 66
Seminar in Quantitative Finance 6 71
Seminar Series in Finance 0 72
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Statistical Learning 6 72
Time Series Analysis 6 76
Topics in Macroeconomics 6 77
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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4. Module description
4.1. Block: Economic Theory and Policy
Module Advanced Macroeconomics I
Area of study / Profiles
► Mandatory Economic Theory and Policy
Recommended semester
1 Mandatory/elective Mandatory
Module coordinator Prof. Oliver Landmann
Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
3 (L) 2 (T)
Course type Lecture Tutorial
Language English
Frequency taught Winter term
Requirements
Firm Command of Intermediate Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. The following macroeconomics text is particularly suitable for preparation: Blanchard/Amighini/Giavazzi (2013): Macroeconomics – A European Perspective, 2nd ed.
Learning/ qualification target
Introduction to advanced theories of economic growth and business cycles
Content
Introduction Economic Growth Growth and Inequality Review of Basic Short-Run Macro New Classical Revival Monetary Policy in a DSGE Model
Examination type 2 hour written examination at the end of the semester
Literature
David Romer: Advanced Macroeconomics, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill,
New York 2012 or 5th ed. 2018.
Journal articles as indicated in lecture
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/news/home
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Module Advanced Macroeconomics II
Area of study / Profiles
► Mandatory Economic Theory and Policy
Recommended semester
2 Mandatory/elective Mandatory
Module coordinator Prof. Günther Schulze
Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS) 3h Lecture 1h Tutorial
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Summer term
Requirements Solid micro- and macroeconomics at the Bachelor level
Learning/ qualification target
Knowledge of concepts of the political economy of macroeconomics at an advanced level
Content
Topics from the following list: Principle-agent problems in the political delegation
Time-inconsistency problem
Commitment vs. flexibility
Central bank independence
Credibility and reputation
Mimicking and signaling
Election
Redistribution
Rent-seeking
Political business cycles
and other topics (topics may vary)
Examination type Exam (90 min.)
Literature
Drazen, A: Political Economy in Macroeconomics. Princeton:
Princeton University Press (current edition)
Addititonal journal articles
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Module Advanced Microeconomics I
Area of study / Profiles
► Mandatory Economic Theory and Policy
Recommended Semester
1 Mandatory/Elective Mandatory
Module Coordinator TBA Work Load 180 hours
ECTS (Credit Points) 6 Contact Hours (SWS)
3 (L) 2 (T)
Course Type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Every winter semester
Requirements Strong command of intermediate microeconomics. The following text is suitable for preparation: Varian: Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach, Norton, 5th ed. 1999.
Learning/ Qualification Target
The basic aim of the course is to provide the students with a solid foundation in microeconomic theory using mathematical techniques. The course aims at providing a deeper knowledge within the neo-classical theory of consumers and firms. Demand and supply of goods and factors of production are derived. The course also aims at providing a deeper knowledge of issues related to general equilibrium, decision under uncertainty, learning and behavioral economics.
Content
Preferences, Utility, Choice
Choices of a Consumer: Classical Demand Theory
Choices of a Producer: Classical Supply Theory
General Equilibrium
Choice under Uncertainty
Learning
Topics in Behavioral Economics
Examination Type Written examination at the end of the semester
Literature Andreu Mas-Colell, Michael D. Whinston and Jerry R. Green
Hal R. Varian, Microeconomic Analysis, Third Edition.
Additional Information & Links
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Module Advanced Microeconomics II
Area of study / Profiles
► Mandatory Economic Theory and Policy
Recommended Semester
2 Mandatory/Elective Mandatory
Module Coordinator TBA Work Load 180 hours
ECTS (Credit Points) 6 Contact Hours (SWS)
3 (L) 2 (T)
Course Type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Every summer semester
Requirements Knowledge of the course “Advanced Microeconomics I”- intermediate game theory
Learning/ Qualification Target
Insights in advanced decision theory and advanced game theory.
Content
In this course we discuss problems of decisions under uncertainty. We analyse various types of non-cooperative games. We consider games with complete and incomplete information, and games with finite and infinite horizons. We develop solution concepts in order to predict strategic decision making. Furthermore, we will classify and evaluate our results.
Examination Type Written examination at the end of the semester
Literature
Introductory textbooks: Osborne, M. J.: An Introduction to Game Theory, Oxford
University Press, 2009.
Gibbons, R.: A Primer in Game Theory, Harvester Wheatsheaf,
1992.
Further Literature: Mas-Collel, A., Whinston, M. D., Green, J.: Microeconomic
Theory, Oxford University Press, 1995.
Additional Information & Links
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Module Economic Policy and Public Choice
Area of study / Profiles
► Mandatory Economic Theory and Policy
Recommended semester
1 Mandatory/elective Mandatory
Module coordinator Prof. Bernhard Neumärker
Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
2 (L) 2 (T)
Course type ► Lecture
► Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Winter term
Requirements Basic knowledge of microeconomics is recommended
Learning/ qualification target
Identification of economic policy problems Appreciate the economic analysis of different systems and
levels of collective choice Sophisticated understanding of economic policy formation Structuring economic policy norms
Content
Introduction
Economic problems of economic policy
1. Economic man and collective action 2. Allocation and exchange 3. Distribution and conflict 4. Liberty and welfare 5. Implementation and reform 6. Stability and sustainability
The public choice of economic policy
1. Rational and behavioral public choice 2. Positive and normative public choice
Institutions and hierarchies of public choice
1. Authoritarian policy formation 2. Democratic organization and voting rules 3. Spatial hierarchy
Liberal concepts of economic policy formation
1. Ordoliberal design
2. Liberal paternalism
3. Constitutional political economy Application to special policy issues
1. Redistribution in democracy 2. Organizing the just welfare state 3. Market regulation and privatization 4. Constitutional budget constraints and their effects on
economic policy
Examination type Written exam (90 minutes)
Literature
Introductory textbooks: Hillman, A.L.: Public Finance and Public Policy, 2nd Ed.,
Cambridge 2009.
Mueller, D.C.: Public Choice III, Cambridge 2003.
Additional readings are announced in class.
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.wipo.uni-freiburg.de
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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4.2. Block: Quantitative Economics
Module Computational Economics: Non-linear Optimization
Area of study / Profiles
► Mandatory Quantitative Economics
Recommended semester
1-4 Mandatory/elective
Mandatory
Module coordinator Prof. Dirk Neumann Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS) 2 (L) 1 (E) 1 (T)
Course type
Lecture
Exercise
Tutorial
Language English
Frequency taught Winter term
Requirements None, Computational Economics is designed as an introductory Master-level course
Learning / qualification target
Students develop an understanding of economic models using standard software at a PC. They learn to formulate optimization problems, and the theory behind optimization techniques. Exercise sessions will provide a hands-on experience using the programming language R.
Content
In Computational Economics well-known economic problems are revisited, formulated as mathematical problems, and implemented using software. The models encompass a wide range of issues from microeconomics and macroeconomics, business production planning, as well as complex models of economic growth. The lecture discusses theoretical basics and methods of model design, as well as algorithms to solve them. During hands-on exercise sessions and tutorials these skills are practiced using software.
Examination type Written Exam
Literature
K.L. Judd, 1998, Numerical Methods in Economics, MIT Press: Cambridge, MA.
D.A. Kendrick, P.R. Mercado, & H.M. Amman, 2005, Computational Economics, Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.
Additional information & links
For further information, please see the chair home page:
http://www.is.uni-freiburg.de
Handbook of Modules Master of Science Economics (MEP)
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Module Intermediate Econometrics
Area of study / Profiles ► Mandatory Quantitative Economics
Recommended Semester
2nd semester Mandatory/ Elective
Mandatory
Module Coordinator Prof. Dr. Roxana Halbleib
Workload Approx. 260
hours (10 ECTS)
ECTS (credit points) 10 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
4 h Lecture
2 h Exercise session
Course Type
Lecture
Exercise session
Additional tutorial
Language English
Frequency taught Every summer term
Requirements Knowledge of mathematics, statistics and probability theory (as taught in any standard bachelor program in economics).
Learning / Qualification Target
This course aims at providing students with the basic tools in undergoing empirical research on their own. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be acquainted with the fundamentals of regression analysis and with its strengths and limitations. Moreover, they should be able to apply econometric tools and software to real economic problems and to thoroughly understand and critically interpret empirical findings.
Content
The course covers the fundamentals of multiple linear regression analysis applied to cross sectional and time series data with emphasis on both theoretical foundations and empirical applications. The course also covers some selected topics in advanced econometrics. Besides lectures, the course entails theoretical and computer exercise sessions. While the theoretical exercise sessions aim at understanding and deepening the theoretical concepts, the computer exercise sessions aim at providing students with practical skills in undergoing empirical work by using R. The computer sessions are offered in exchange with the theoretical exercise sessions.
Examination Type 100% final exam: 90 minutes for 6 ECTS, 120 minutes for 10 ECTS
Literature
Introductory Literature Wooldridge, J. M. (2019): Introductory Econometrics – A
Modern Approach, 7th ed., South Western, Cengage
Learning. Please note that old book editions are
acceptable as well.
Greene, W. H. (2008): Econometric Analysis, 6th, ed.,
Pearson Prentice Hall. Other book editions are
acceptable as well. (eBook available)
Additional Literature Stock, J. H. and M. W. Watson (2015): Introduction to
Econometrics, updated 3rd ed., global ed., Pearson. Angrist, J. D., and J.-S. Pischke (2009): Mostly Harmless
Econometrics – An Empiricist’s Companion, Princeton University Press. (eBook available)
Angrist, J. D. and J. S. Pischke (2014): Mastering Metrics:
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The Path from Cause to Effect, Princeton University Press.
Heiss, Florian (2016): Using R for Introductory Econometrics. (online version available)
Further references will be given throughout the course.
Additional Information & Links
Website: http://www.econometrics.uni-freiburg.de/teaching The course material can be downloaded from ILIAS (https://ilias.uni-freiburg.de/login.php). Please register on ILIAS for this course in order to get access to the course material, updates and relevant information.
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4.3. Specialization Courses
Module Constitutional Economics
Area of study / Profiles
► Specialization Economics and Politics
Recommended semester
2 Mandatory/elective Mandatory
Module coordinator Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
2 (L) 2 (T)
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Summer term
Requirements Under Review
Learning/ qualification target
Under Review
Content Under Review
Examination type Written exam (90 minutes)
Literature Under Review
Additional Links information & links
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Module Principles of Finance
Area of study /
Profiles ► Specialization Finance
Recommended
semester 2nd
Mandatory/electiv
e
Mandatory
(for Finance profile)
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Eva
Lütkebohmert-Holtz Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours
(SWS)
2 Lecture
2 Tutorial
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Every summer semester
Requirements Advanced Microeconomics I
Learning/
qualification target
Introduction to basic concepts of asset pricing and the valuation of
contingent claims
Content
This course introduces the basic concepts of asset pricing and the
valuation of contingent claims. Asset pricing in complete markets
generates strong results such as information efficiency and the
concepts of a market portfolio and a market price of risk. Moreover,
in dynamically complete markets simple arbitrage techniques allow
to value derivatives such as options. Empirically, however, the
predictions based on complete markets are often rejected. So-called
anomalies suggest that many - if not most - real markets are
incomplete. Therefore, the second part introduces elements of
valuation in incomplete markets when the property of equilibrium
prices to communicate private information is rather limited.
Examination type 120 min written exam at the end of the semester
Literature
Bingham, Kiesel “Risk-Neutral Valuation: Pricing and Hedging
of Financial Derivatives.” 2nd ed., Springer Finance, 2004.
Cochrane “Asset Pricing.” Princeton University Press, 2005.
Elton, Gruber, Brown, Goetzman “Modern Portfolio Theory and
Investment Analysis”, 6th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2003.
Gitman “Principles of Managerial Finance”, 11th Edition,
Addison-
Wesley, 2006.
Hull “Options, Futures and Other Derivatives.” 7th ed., Prentice
Hall, 2009.
LeRoy, Werner “Principles of Financial Economics”,
Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Shreve “Stochastic Calculus for Finance I: The Binomial Asset
Pricing Model.” Springer Finance, 2005.
Additional
information & links https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de/
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4.4. Elective Courses
Elective courses are open to students from all profiles. If the profile is indicated as one of the areas of study / profiles, the course will be considered “internal elective”. If the profile is not indicated, the course can be taken as “external elective”.
Module Advances in Empirical Finance
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance ► Information Systems and Network Economics
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Roxana Halbleib
Work load Approx. 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
2 SWS
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements
Basic requirement: (1) successful completion of the classes Intermediate Econometrics and Time Series Analysis as well as (2) sound knowledge in a programming language (R, Python, Matlab, etc.). Parallel enrollment in ”Financial Econometrics” and/or “Advanced Topics in Econometrics” is highly recommended.
Learning/qualification target
The goal of this seminar is to acquaint master students with advanced and modern econometric methods and their applications to research questions related to financial econometrics, quantitative risk management, high-dimensional and high-frequency finance as well as machine learning in empirical finance.
Content
Advanced topics in applied financial econometrics. The topics vary each semester. They are announced in the first meeting at the beginning of the semester. On each topic, students (single or in a group of two) have to write an empirical research paper, in which they apply a novel and/or advanced econometric method to solve real economic problems by undergoing a complex empirical analysis on real (usually big) financial data. The topics can be individually adapted to allow for being pursued further in a subsequent master thesis.
Examination type Term paper, classroom (or online) presentation and discussion of one fellow’s paper
Literature The list of literature is provided for each topic during the first meeting at the beginning of the semester.
Additional information & links
A preliminary registration is required! For further information about the seminar, please visit the homepage of the chair: http://www.econometrics.uni-freiburg.de/.
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Module Advanced Mathematics for Economics and Finance
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance ► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
1. to 4. Semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Eva
Lütkebohmert-Holtz Workload 120 hours
ECTS (credit points)
6 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
2h Lecture 1h Tutorial
Course Type Lecture Tutorial
Language English
Frequency taught Winter term
Requirements Good command of calculus and linear algebra at the undergraduate level
Learning / Qualification Target
This lecture is aimed at students of the MSc VWL and MSc Economics (all Profiles) who are at the beginning of their studies. Mathematical tools going beyond the undergraduate level are provided. The lecture will cover a range of relevant mathematical tools and techniques that are typically required for further studies in economics. At the end of the course students should be able to understand and apply these tools. The methods discussed in class help students to read current economic research papers and work with economic models. Thus, they might be able to fully concentrate on the economics in their economic courses. During the semester the students practice the methods with are discussed in class with the help of problem sets.
Content
Topics in Linear Algebra Multivariate Calculus Static Optimization Differential Equations Probability Theory
Examination Type
Written exam
Literature The lecture makes heavy use of the following book: Knut Sydsæter et. al., 2008, Further Mathematics for Economic Analysis, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall University Press
Additional Information & Links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de/
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Module Advanced Topics in Econometrics
Area of study/Profile
► Economics and Politics ► Finance ► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
3. Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator
Roxana Halbleib Workload Approx. 240 hours
ECTS (credit points)
6 Contact Hours (SWS)
Lecture (2 SWS) Exercise Session (2 SWS)
Course type 1 Lecture 1 Exercise Session
Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Statistics, Mathematics, Econometrics (the level of Intermediate Econometrics)
Learning/ qualification target
This course aims at endowing students with advanced knowledge in econometric techniques necessary for sound empirical analyses.
Content
The course builds up on the course Intermediate Econometrics and provides deeper knowledge on econometric fundamental concepts and on the econometric techniques related to non-linear modelling and estimation (such as maximum likelihood, generalized method of moments, non-parametric techniques, Monte Carlo simulations, bootstrapping, Kalman filter, etc.). Thus, the course provides students with the necessary theoretical background in undergoing elaborate empirical research in economics, but also in other fields. The exercise sessions cover theoretical exercises and empirical applications by using the programming language Python.
Examination type Final Exam (90 minutes)
Literature
Cameron A. C. and P. K Trivedi (2005): Microeconometrics Methods and Applications, Cambridge University Press. Gourieroux, C. and A. Monfort (1995)]: Statistics and Econometric Models, Vol. 1 and 2, Cambridge University Press. Hamilton (1994): Time Series Analysis. Princeton University Press. Hansen, B. (2015): Econometrics, current manuscript, https://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~bhansen/econometrics/Econometrics.pdf Hayashi, F. (2000): Econometrics, Princeton University Press. Mittelhammer, R. C., G. G. Judge, and D. J. Miller (2000): Econometric Foundations, Cambridge University Press.
Additional information & links
Website: http://www.econometrics.uni-freiburg.de/teaching Course material can be exclusively downloaded from ILIAS (https://ilias.uni-freiburg.de/login.php). For further material, updates, and relevant information, please keep checking ILIAS. The access password will be announced during the first lecture.
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Module Algorithm Design and Software Engineering
Areas of Study / Profiles
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
► 1-4
Module Coordinator Prof. Dirk Neumann Mandatory / Elective
Elective
ECTS (credit points) 4 Work load Ca. 120 hours
Course type Lecture
Tutorial SWS
1 (L) 1 (T)
Frequency taught Irregular Language English
Requirements
This course covers the concepts of software engineering and algorithm design. Students will acquire basic knowledge of software engineering, software testing and IT management. This knowledge serves as a lever for creating new software applications or for changing the functionality of existing ones. While the aforementioned concepts address the “big picture”, we also focus on the underlying programming. A short-introduction to control flows will enable students to design algorithms for various purposes. Here, we introduce the most relevant ones from the literature, e.g. for sorting, searching, and graph operations.
Basic knowledge of the statistical software “R” is necessary.
Content
Software has become an integral part of every successful business. Software systems help to detect, solve, and organize problems in a reliable and efficient manner. Common examples include systems for customer relationship management (CRM) or ticketing, which distribute tasks across stakeholders. Moreover, analyzing big data or even simple office programs are just a few examples for prevalent applications of software. Nowadays, tailored software exists for almost all common business sectors. Software engineering has thus evolved as the handcraft of the 21th century. At the heart of any software is the programmed code with its different algorithms. In that context, an algorithm is a clearly defined and logical step-by-step operation. It sets certain standards of quality; nevertheless, it is still flexible enough to solve a broad variety of problems in short time. Furthermore, it is easy to retrace the result of such a step-by-step operation. In our daily life, algorithms are omnipresent, as they play important roles in search engines, stock trading, social networking etc. Tentative Topics Organization and Motivation Introduction to Logic Control Structures Recursion and Dynamic Programming (DP) Data Structures Trees Graphs Sorting and Searching Object Oriented Programming (OOP) Unified Modelling Language (UML) Software Testing IT Management
Examination type Written Exam
Literature Wickham: Advanced R (CRC Press, 2014) Sedgewick: Algorithms (Addison-Wesley, 2011)
Additional information& links
For further information, please see the chair home page:
http://www.is.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Basic Income and Social Justice in the Social Contract Laboratory [SoCoLab] (Seminar)
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
1 to 4 semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Bernhard Neumärker
Workload 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Contact hours (SWS)
Block course (further information is available on the homepage)
Course Type Blockcourse Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements no special requirements
Learning/ Qualification Target
Becoming familiar with experimental logic and design and its
application to social contracting, collective action and economic
policy.
Designing, conducting and analyzing own experiments
Experiencing experimental approaches, especially with respect to
social contracting, basic income, and income redistribution.
Deepening the understanding of social contracts and rules of
redistribution.
Enhancing analytical thinking and understanding of contract and
social justice theories.
Experiencing and analyzing (experimental) consequences of
different degrees of inequality and social immobility for the choice
of social justice principles, tax rules and redistributive economic
policy
Content
SoCoLab seminar, winner of a University teaching award 2012, deviates
from a usual seminar setting. The students, after reading the necessary
papers and finishing the required assignments, will be welcomed during
class to participate and discuss the elements of the theories and their
ideas with Prof. Neumärker and his co-workers. The seminar consists of
an introduction, two blocked meetings, a day of experiments with the
participants, and a concluding session for the team experiments. In the
first sessions (Part I), the theoretical foundations and political problems
are laid out. After the introduction to experiment settings (Part II),
participants follow the presentations and critical discussion on design
and conduct team experiments (Part III). Participation in all the classes
is obligatory in order to achieve maximum participation and
understanding of the subjects. After the classes and experiments for
seminar participants are over, teams are given a sufficient amount of time
to develop an experiment on the topic. In the team experiments, the
participants are expected to critically reflect on one of the issues tackled
in the seminar. The experiment design formalities and more specific
information on the content will be provided to all participants.
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Content: Introductory Session
Learning sessions:
- 3 x 2 Hour Sessions on Social Contract, Basic Income Theories
and Economic Problems of Inequality and Social Immobility
- 3 x 2 Hour Sessions on Experimental Logic and Design and its
application to Social Contracting on Basic Income and Public
Inequality Regulation
- 2 x 3 Hour Experimental Sessions
- 2 x 2 Hour Feedback Sessions on Critical Discussion of the
Theoretical Underpinnings and Experimental Outcomes
Examination Type
The overall grade is the weighted as a sum of all three elements of the seminar with the following weights: Team Experiment and Paper/Report on a Experiment: 60%, Assignments: 20%, Class Participation: 20%. The teams will be built, at the latest, after the “Experimental Sessions for Participants”.
Literature Provided in the Introductory session
Additional Information &Links
For further information please see the chair home page http://www.wipo.uni-freiburg.de/Lehre
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Module Behavioral Economics
Area of Study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
3. semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Lars Feld Workload 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
2h Lecture 2h Tutorial
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements No special requirements
Learning/ Qualification Target
Students shall become familiar with the basic insights of the subject, the cutting-edge empirical methods used in this realm, and the latest research findings.
Content
The area of “Behavioral Economics” studies the actual behavior of agents. It explicitly takes into account human emotions (e.g., perception of fairness, risk aversion) and attempts to model systematic deviations from standard economic theory with respect to human behavior. This lecture gives an introduction to “Behavioral Economics”, its main theories and implications. We will discuss models of human behavior and related studies that test these theories in an empirical way (mainly using experiments). It is expected that all participants in the lecture participate actively by reading the relevant papers. In the first lecture we will assign 10 papers to students who will give a short presentation of a paper (motivation, research design, findings) of max. 15 minutes over the whole semester. All relevant materials will be uploaded on ILIAS in October.
Examination Type Written exam
Literature Cartwright, E. (2014). Behavioral Economics. Routledge.
Additional Information & Links
For further information please see the chair home page – confirm which link is correct: www.eucken.de or http://www.ordo.uni-freiburg.de/
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Module Business Analytics
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
► Information System and Network Economics
Recommended semester
2-4 Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module cordinator Prof. Dirk Neumann Workload Ca. 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 SWS 2
Course type Lecture Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements
The module builds upon the lecture “Business Intelligence” from the Bachelor program, but sets a different focus. Hence, having attended the Bachelor lecture is not a prerequisite, but an affinity for working with and analyzing data is recommended.
Learning/ qualification target
The lecture aims at training students in the following methodologies: Clustering – the automated separation of large data sets into
meaningful clusters Associations – pattern recognition based on the relationships
between observations in the data set Prediction – using relationships between observations to predict
future developments - Decision Trees - Support Vector Machines - Kernels - (Logistic) - Regression - Linear Discriminant Analysis - Bootstrapping
Content
Data mining is becoming increasingly important to interpret the vast amounts of data that are accumulated today. In this lecture students are introduced to several techniques that allow them to extract previously unknown information from these enormous data sets. The gained insights can subsequently be used to support decision making in business or public administration.
Examination type Written Exam (60 min)
Literature
C.M. Bishop, Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning,
Springer, New York, 2006.
G. James, D. Witten, T. Hastie, R. Tibshirani, An Introduction to
Statistical Learning, 4th edition, Springer, New York, NY, 2013.
F. Provost, Data Science for Business: What You Need to Know
about Data Mining and Data-Analytic Thinking, O’Reilly Media,
2013.
J. Friedman, T.Hastie, R. Tibshirani, The elements of statistical
learning, Springer, Berlin: Springer series in statistics, 2001.
Additional information& links
For further information, please see the chair home page:
http://www.is.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Business Analytics (Seminar): Business Intelligence with R and Python
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
► Information System and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
2. to 4. semester Mandatory/Elective
Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Dirk Neumann Workload Ca. 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
Course Type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught See additional information
Requirements No special requirements. However, basic programming experience is recommended.
Learning/ Qualification Target
Work on an individual scientific topic. Acquire programming & data mining skills.
Content
Prior to the start of the Information Age in the late 20th century, companies were forced to collect data from non-automated sources manually. Companies lacked the computing capabilities necessary for data to be analyzed, and as a result, decisions primarily originated not from knowledge but from intuition. With the emergence of ubiquitous computing technology, company decisions nowadays rely strongly on computer-aided “Data Mining”. Business Intelligence refers to technologies that target how business information (or sometimes information in general) is collected, analyzed and presented. Combining these features results in software called Business Intelligence systems. These systems serve the purpose of providing better decision support.
In this seminar, we will focus on what distinguishes the varying capabilities across Data Mining – namely the underlying methods. We will review different strategies for data collection, data analysis, and data visualization. Sample approaches include dimension reduction of big data, data visualization, model selection, clustering and forecasting.
In particular, the seminar will answer the following questions:
Forecasting: Based on historical values, how can businesses predict future developments ahead of time? Given the current stock market prices, can we predict tomorrow’s values?
Data analysis: How does weather impact electricity prices? Which parameters of second-hand cars correlate with their value?
Clustering: How can businesses group consumers into distinct categories according to their purchase behavior? Can businesses group job applicants into groups of similar characteristics?
Dimension reduction: How can businesses simplify a large amount of indicators into a smaller subset with similar significance? Can the huge set of features characterizing
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supermarkets (e.g. gas station, discounts, service) be combined into groups?
Individual assignments will consist of a specific problem from Data Mining. Each participant will be provided with a dataset to which a certain method should be applied to using the programming languages Python or R.
Examination Type Usually a presentation and a written paper
Literature
Among others, we will cover material from the following books:
- Wickham, Hadley, and Garrett Grolemund. R for data science: import, tidy, transform, visualize, and model data. O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2016.
- Friedman, Jerome, Trevor Hastie, and Robert Tibshirani. The elements of statistical learning. Vol. 1. New York: Springer series in statistics, 2001.
Additional Information & Links
For further information, please see the chair home page:
http://www.is.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Business Analytics (Seminar): Webscraper Development and Data Analysis using R and Python
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
► Information System and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
2 - 4
Module Coordinator Prof. Dirk Neumann Mandatory/Elective Elective
ECTS-Points 6 Workload Ca. 120 - 180 Stunden
Course Type Seminar SWS
Frequency taught See information Language Deutsch / Englisch
Requirements
There are no formal requirements. However, basic programming skills are recommended (preferably, you will work in R and/or Python). For students who are less familiar to programming, it is also possible to work with a precollected dataset and focus on the data mining part. Please indicate in your application if you would prefer this setup. Please also indicate your level of programming expertise.
Learning and Qualification Target
In this seminar, students will acquire two kinds of skills. First, students will learn to build a web scraper to collect their own dataset from the web. Second, students will review different strategies for data analysis, and data visualization.
Content
Prior to the start of the Information Age in the late 20th century, companies were forced to collect data from non-automated sources manually. Companies lacked the computing capabilities necessary for data to be analyzed, and as a result, decisions primarily originated not from knowledge but from intuition. With the emergence of ubiquitous computing technology, company decisions nowadays rely strongly on computer-aided “Data Mining”. In this seminar, students will acquire two kinds of skills. First, students will learn to build a web scraper to collect their own dataset from the web. Second, students will review different strategies for data analysis, and data visualization. Students are asked to describe and visualize the content of their dataset. Optionally, committed students can pick a statistical method / data mining algorithm of their choice and perform a descriptive or predictive data mining task on their dataset.
Examination Type Usually a presentation and a written paper
Literature
Among others, we will cover material from the following books:
- Wickham, Hadley, and Garrett Grolemund. R for data science: import, tidy, transform, visualize, and model data. O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2016.
- Friedman, Jerome, Trevor Hastie, and Robert Tibshirani. The elements of statistical learning. Vol. 1. New York: Springer series in statistics, 2001.
Additional Information & Links
Every semester there is at least one Seminar on Business Analytics covering one specific topic. More information at the website of the Chair (http://www.is.uni-freiburg.de/).
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Module Computational Finance
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
2nd year Mandatory/elective Elective
Instructor Dr. Ernst August v. Hammerstein
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS) 2 Lecture 2 Tutorial
Course type Lecture
Computer Course Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements
Principles of Finance
Futures and Options.
Programming knowledge in other languages/software packages is not required resp. expected, but may be helpful of course.
Learning/ qualification target
Introduction to the R programming environment and its application to calculate and visualize interest rates, option prices, loss distributions, and risk measures.
Content
In this course, we first give a concise introduction to the R program-ing environment. With help of the provided tools, we then develop some programs for bootstrapping zero rates, pricing vanilla options in binomial trees and exotic options in time-continuous models via Monte Carlo methods. We also regard some aspects of hedging and convergence in this context. Further we discuss the implementation of risk measures, the sampling of loss distributions in elementary credit risk models. Depending on the time left, we may additionally discuss the simulation of (approximate) solutions to stochastic differential equations.
Examination type 90 min. computer-based exam (some small programming exercises) at the end of the semester.
Literature
Hull, J.C.: Options, Futures, and other Derivatives, 7th ed., Prentice Hall, 2009
Lai, T.L., Xing, H.: Statistical Models and Methods for Financial Markets, Springer, 2008
Seydel, R.U.: Tools for computational finance, 4th ed., Springer, 2009
Any introductory book to the R programming environment, e.g. Braun, J., Murdoch, D.J.: A first course in statistical
programming with R, Cambridge University Press, 2007
See also the documentation on the official R homepage
Additional information & links
For more information: https://www.stochastik.uni-freiburg.de/lehre
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Module Credit Risk
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
2nd year Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Eva Lütkebohmert-Holtz
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS) 2 Lecture 2 Tutorial
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught irregular
Requirements Principles of Finance
Futures and Options
Learning/ qualification target
Introduction to single name and portfolio credit risk models and pricing of credit derivatives
Content
Credit risk represents by far the biggest risk in the activities of a traditional bank. In particular, during recession periods financial institutions lose enormous amounts of money as a consequence of bad loans and default events. In the last two decades, a multitude of credit-linked derivatives has been developed to manage and transfer credit risks in an efficient and standardized way. These allow banks to shape their risk profile according to regulatory standards. In this lecture, we introduce some of the most popular single name- and portfolio credit models and show how these are used to quantify credit risk and to price credit derivatives like credit default swaps (CDS), basket default swaps and collateralized debt obligations (CDO).
Examination type 120 min. written examination at the end of the semester
Literature
Bielecki, T.R., Rutkowski, M.: Credit Risk: Modeling, Valuation,
and Hedging. Springer, 2002
Bluhm, C., Overbeck, L.: Structured credit portfolio analysis,
baskets & CDOs. Chapman & Hall/CRC Press, 2006
Duffie, D., Singleton, K.F.: Credit Risk: Pricing, Measurement,
and Management. Princeton University Press, 2003
Lando, D.: Credit Risk Modeling: Theory and Applications.
Princeton University Press, 2004
Lütkebohmert, E.: Concentration Risk in Credit Portfolios.
Springer, 2009
Schönbucher, P.J.: Credit Derivatives Pricing Models. Wiley,
2003
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page:
https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de/
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Module Current Issues in Finance and Monetary Economics (Bundesbank-Seminar)
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance ► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
2-4 semester Mandatory/elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Günter Beck (Visiting Professor)
Work load 120 h
ECTS (credit points) 4 ECTS Contact hours (SWS) 2 SWS
Course Type Seminar Language English
Frequancy One-time event
Prerequisites Successful completion of „Advanced Macro 1“ and/or „Principles of Finance“ strongly recommended
Learning/ qualification target
Introduction to Current Issues in Finance and Monetary Economics
Content
1. Frictionless investment model, Tobin’s q, the Modigliani-Miller theorem
2. Micro-foundations of frictions in credit markets 3. Macroeconomic implications of frictions in credit markets 4. Endogenous leverage and leverage cycles 5. Financial intermediation, liquidity provision and bank runs 6. The term structure of interest rates
Type of examination Term paper and classroom presentation
Literature
Brunnermeier, Markus K, Thomas M Eisenbach, and Yuliy
Sannikov (2012). Macroeconomics with financial frictions: A
survey. Tech. rep. National Bureau of Economic Research.
Freixas, Xavier and Jean-Charles Rochet (2008).
Microeconomics of Banking, Second Edition. Cambridge [Mass]:
The MIT Press.
Romer, David (2011). Advanced macroeconomics, 4th edition.
McGraw-Hill Education.
Walsh, Carl E (2010). Monetary Theory and Policy, Third Edition.
The MIT Press.
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/news/home
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Module Development Microeconometrics Using STATA
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended semester
1-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Günther Schulze
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
2 Seminar 2 Tutorial
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught irregular
Requirements
Required: Intermediate Microeconometrics or intermediate knowledge of econometrics demonstrated through the completion of comparable courses. Parallel enrollment in Microeconometrics is strongly recommended.
Learning/ qualification target
The primary goal of the course is to broaden students’ skills of working with the statistical program STATA and to enable them to conduct their own empirical analyses for their thesis. The course targets advanced master students with a good basic knowledge of econometrics. By replicating and discussing published empirical studies, students are trained in critical thinking about the design and identification of micro-empirical studies.
Content
In the course, students will replicate selected empirical papers within the field of Development Economics. It will include sessions on finding and managing micro-data, linear regression models, instrumental variable approaches, nonlinear regression models and empirical analyses based on panel data.
Examination type Weekly homework, two take-home exams.
Literature Selected papers, literature list will be available at the beginning of the seminar.
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
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Modul Dynamic Fiscal Policy
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
Recommended Semester
1. to 4. semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Bernd Raffelhüschen Workload 180 Hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
2h Workshop
Course Type Workshop (Lecture plus computer sessions)
Language English
Frequency taught Every summerterm
Requirements
Students should have passed lectures “Öffentliche Ausgaben” and “Öffentliche Einnahmen” or introductory public economic courses at their home universities. In addition, students should have some basic knowledge of Mircosoft Excel or any other spreadsheet software.
Learning/ Qualification Target
The course is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the dynamic macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy, general equilibrium theory, neoclassical growth theory and the model of overlapping generations.
Content
The course is structured in four case studies, including the introduction of a pay-as-you-go social security scheme, a deficit-financed tax cut, the incidence of capital income taxation and generational accounting in general equilibrium. Each case study consists of two parts. A lecture providing students with the theoretical background of the case study at hand and an accompanying computer session devoted to the analysis of the dynamic macroeconomic effects by means of a numerical simulation.
Module Courses Lecture and computer sessions (compulsory attendance)
Examination Type
four graded worksheets
participation during the computer sessions
oral exam
Literature
Auerbach, A. J. und L. J. Kotlikoff (1987), Dynamic Fiscal
Policy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Raffelhüschen, B. (1989), Alterssicherung und
Staatsverschuldung, Finanzarchiv, 47, 60-76.
Raffelhüschen, B. (1993), Funding Social Security Through
Pareto-optimal Conversion policies, Journal of Economics, 7,
105-131.
Raffelhüschen, B. und A. E. Risa (1997), Generational
Accounting and Intergenerational Welfare, Public Choice, 93:
149–163.
Additional Information & Links
Further information about the application process is available on the homepage of the department: http://www.fiwi1.uni-freiburg.de/lehre/veranstaltungen.html
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Module Econometric Risk Management in Finance
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
3–4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Sevtap Kestel
Work load Approx. 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 Contact hours (SWS)
2 (L) + PC tutorial
Course type Block course Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Knowledge in Principles of Finance, Econometrics will be an advantage to follow the theoretical part of the course. The quantitative part of the lecture requires background in Econometrics.
Learning/ qualification target
This course provides an overview on the risk management techniques, especially, on finance by using econometric and statistical techniques. The main parts of the course are quantitative analysis and the components of risks related to financial markets. The quantitative part contains characterizing random variables, linear transformation of random variables and their distributions, simulation technique, simulation of Markov processes and yields, VaR methods, linear models, time variation at risk, GARCH, EWMA, Risk adjusted performance measures, risk and risk aversion with utility functions and expected values, stress testing and back testing. Risk management practices introduce the analyses of market, credit, operational and investment risk in general. Case studies discussing current examples of the lack of proper risk management in world-wide known companies in last decade constitute the application part of the lecture which will be covered during the lectures and tutorials. The targets proposed will be achieved through the interactive classwork and assignments given through the semester. A term project may be given to enable students to practice the topics covered.
Content
Highly changing demand and supply structure in the market, in-creasing effect of globalization, economic fluctuations, environmental disasters are just some of the challenges that economies have to consider. For these reasons Risk Management became one of the vital steps to be taken as an important part of the economic policy. Introduction
Risk management definition, steps and major techniques; risk aversion, utility and expectation, Jensen’s inequality, Example: Determination of optimal insurance premium by utility theory
Quantitative Analysis: Random variable, linear transformation of random variables, sum and portfolios of random variables and their distributions, Simulation techniques
Risk Management practices: Market risk management, credit risk management, operational risk management, investment risk management, Basel II.
VaR, Simulating VaR, Markov process, yields, Risk adjusted performance measures, The mean-variance criterion, stress testing, back testing
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Linear models, time variation at risk, GARCH, EWMA Case studies
Examination type Assignments and Final Exam
Literature
Financial Risk Manager Handbook by Philippe Jorion, 6th Ed., John Wiley and Sons, 2009.
Risk Management by Michel Crouhy, Dan Galai, Robert Mark, McGraw Hill, 2000.
Investment Risk Management by Yen Yee Chong, John Wiley, 2004.
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/news/home
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Module Economics of Social Justice
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
1-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Bernhard Neumärker
Work load 120 - 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 Contact hours (SWS) 2 (L) 2 (T)
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Winter term
Requirements Lectures in “Advanced Microeconomics” and “Economic Policy and Public Choice“ are recommended
Learning/ qualification target
understanding the role of justice and fairness in economics
analysis and collective decision-making
learning how to apply theories and norms of justice to specific
problems of economic policy
assessing social justice as a part of positive economic analysis
assessing social justice as a part of normative economic analysis
approaching the development and determination of just
constitutional rules for a society
Content
Practical policy choices involve sacrificing the well-being and the means of some for the benefits of others, as compared with alternatives that could have been chosen. Even if it is not the only thing that matters, the problem of distributive justice is essential, omnipresent and inevitable. Economists not only have failed to answer the questions of the just distribution, but have tried harder to avoid the problem than to solve it. They have a great deal to say about efficiency and potential compensation, but they are nearly silent concerning meaningful principles of justice and their effects on economic policy. One has to integrate the following normative and positive aspects of justice into the analysis of economic policy: Is social justice equality? Why (or why not)? Among whom? Is equality to each according to her abilities, her work or her consumption? Or else is it equality of opportunities, liberties, powers and/or rights? Do we need a just process or a just outcome of policy making? What are the most important elements of a just constitution? How is the reason of just rules applied to daily economic policy?
Examination type 4 ECTS: Written exam (60 min)
6 ECTS: Written exam (90 min)
Literature
Kolm, S.-C.: Modern theories of justice, Cambridge et al. 1996.
Konov, J.: Which is the fairest one of all? A positive analysis of
justice theories, in: Journal of economic literature 41 (2003),1188-
1239.
Moulin, H.J.: Cooperative microeconomics, Princeton 1995.
Mueller, D.C.: Public choice III, Cambridge 2003.
Roemer, J.E.: Theories of distributive justice, Cambridge et al.
1996.
Schotter, A.: Free Market Economics, 2nd Ed., Oxford et al. 1990.
Silver, M.: Foundations of Economic Justice, Oxford et al. 1989.
Zajac, E.E.: Political economy of fairness, Cambridge/MA 1995.
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Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.wipo.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Electronic Markets
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
1-4 Mandatory / Elective
Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Dirk Neumann Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 SWS 2 (L) 1 (E)
Course type Lecture
Exercise Language English
Frequency taught Summer term
Requirements No special requirements
Learning/ qualification target
Electronic markets are an essential building block of today’s networked service economy. We face them in automated stock exchanges, auctions at ebay and Google, as well as in industrial contracting. By enabling the trade and allocation of frequencies for wireless communication (UMTS, LTE) and emission certificates, electronic markets shape the future of our planet, our economies, and our societies. However, the design and implementation of market mechanisms is highly complex. Markets need to be protected from cheating by individual agents or full-blown market failures. The lecture “Electronic Markets” seeks to provide students with an understanding of how electronic market platforms are analyzed, designed, and introduced.
Content
The topics covered in the lecture can be divided into three broad areas: The microstructure. This area includes rules that define how
markets operate and covers, for instance, a recap of game theory and auction rules for single-unit and combinatorial auctions. This is the main focus of the lecture.
The IS infrastructure. This area contains issues concerning the implementation of electronic markets, such as computational complexity.
The business structure. This area outlines how the electronic market is offered to its customers and covers issues such as enforcement, trust, and monitoring.
Students learn to comprehend, to enhance, and to evaluate the design potentials of electronic market platforms. The participation in the exercise sessions is highly recommended. During the exercise sessions, students will get hands-on experiences with game-theoretical experiments and different auctions formats.
Examination type Written Examination
Literature
Roth, A. The Economist as Engineer: Game Theory, Experimental Economics and Computation as Tools for Design Economics. Econometrica 70(4): 1341-1378, 2002.
Weinhardt, C. ,Holtmann, C., Neumann, D. Market Engineering. Wirtschaftsinformatik 45(6): 635-640, 2003.
Wolfstetter, E. Topics in Microeconomics - Industrial Organization, Auctions, and Incentives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
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Additional information & links
For further information, please see the chair home page:
http://www.is.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Empirical Research Seminar in Institutional Economics
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended semester
1-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Tim Krieger Work load 180
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
2h Seminar, 2h Tutorial
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught Every second semester (winter term)
Requirements Statistics and econometrics
Learning/ qualification target
The aim of the seminar is twofold: A specific topic will be covered in depth so that students gain a thorough understanding of this topic. At the same time, students will be trained in applying empirical methods using the statistical program Stata in the tutorial. Students will learn how to critically discuss, replicate and extend empirical scientific studies and apply this in their seminar paper and presentation.
Content Seminar topics change every semester. The Stata tutorial will include sessions on managing data, linear regression models and further techniques related to the respective topic.
Examination type
Seminar paper Presentation Participation in the discussion Stata Do- and log-files
Literature Changes every semester
Additional information & links
For further information, please see the chair home page:
http://www.wguth.uni-freiburg.de/aktuelles
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Module Finance, climate change, and the global energy transition
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
Recommended semester
3rd Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Eva Lütkebohmert-Holtz, Dr. Mirko Schäfer
Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS) 30h attendance in class
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught irregular
Requirements none
Learning objectives
After successful completion of the course, the student is able to… Describe scenarios for climate change and for the
transformation to a low-carbon economy Discuss current global trends for the investment in low-carbon
energy systems Relate climate risks and policy risks to systemic risk in financial
systems Communicate key points from current reports and scientific
articles covering the global energy transition, climate risks, and their relation to the financial system
Content
Scenarios for climate change and for the transition to a low-carbon economy
The role of climate change and the energy transition for financial stability
The interplay between policy, investment dynamics, and technological development
Classification of sustainable investments and assessment of climate-related risks
The impact of the energy transition on capital markets The fossil fuel divestment movement
Examination type Written report and oral presentation
Literature
„A call for action – Climate change as a source of financial
risk”, Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS),
2019
„Annual Review 2018-2019“, Carbon Tracker, 2019
„World Energy Investment 2020“, International Energy
Agency (IEA), 2020
“Climate change challenges for central banks and financial
regulators”, E. Camiglio et al., Nature Climate Change 8,
462-468, 2018
Further literature will be announced in the course.
Additional information & links
For further information please see the Chair’s home page:
https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Financial Econometrics
Area of study/Profile ► Finance ► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
3 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Roxana Halbleib Work load Approx. 240 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
Lecture (2 SWS) Exercise Session (2 SWS)
Course type 1 Lecture 1 Exercise Session
Language English
Rotation Every Winter Term
Requirements Statistics, Mathematics, Econometrics, Time Series Analysis, Principles of Finance
Learning/ qualification target
This course aims at endowing students with the necessary econometric knowledge and tools for undergoing empirical research on financial data.
Content
The course covers the fundamentals of financial econometrics and empirical finance with emphasis on both theoretical foundations and empirical applications. The course aims at sharpening students’ view on the limitations of the theoretical models and their empirical applications as well as at equipping students with a profound knowledge of financial data handling and programming skills in Python. The main topics covered are:
1. Empirical Properties of Financial Data 2. Univariate GARCH Models 3. Univariate Stochastic Volatility Models 4. Application: Value at Risk and Expected Shortfall 5. Multivariate GARCH Models 6. Application: Portfolio Analysis 7. High-Frequency Finance 8. Realized (Co)variance Models
Examination type Final Exam (90 minutes)
Literature
Campbell, J. Y., A. W. Lo and A. C. MacKinlay (1997): The Econometrics of Financial Markets, Princeton University Press.
Francq, C. and Zakoian J. M. (2011): GARCH models: structure, statistical inference and financial applications, Wiley.com.
Franses & van Dijk (2000): Nonlinear Time Series Models in Empirical Finance, Cambridge University Press Cambridge. Gourieroux C. and J. Jasiak (2001): Financial Econometrics, Princeton University Press.
Hayashi, F. (2002): Econometrics, Princeton University Press.
McNeil, A. J., R. Frey and P. Embrechts: Quantitative Risk Management: Concepts, Techniques and Tools, Princeton University Press.
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Tsay, R. S. (2005). Analysis of financial time series (Vol. 543). John Wiley & Sons.
Andersen T., Davis R., Kreiß J. and Mikosch T. (2009): Handbook of Financial Time Series, Springer.
Additional information & links
Website: http://www.econometrics.uni-freiburg.de/teaching Course material can be exclusively downloaded from ILIAS (https://ilias.uni-freiburg.de/login.php). For further material, updates, and relevant information, please keep checking ILIAS.
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Module Futures and Options
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
Recommended semester
3rd Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Eva Lütkebohmert-Holtz
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS) 2 Lecture 2 Tutorial
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Every winter semester
Requirements Principles of Finance
Learning/ qualification target
Introduction to basic principles of risk-neutral valuation of futures, standard and exotic options as well as interest rate derivatives.
Content
This course covers an introduction to financial markets and products. Besides futures and standard put and call options of European and American type we also discuss interest-rate sensitive instruments such as swaps. For the valuation of financial derivatives we first introduce financial models in discrete time as the Cox-Ross-Rubinstein model and explain basic principles of risk-neutral valuation. Finally, we will discuss the famous Black-Scholes model which represents a continuous time model for option pricing.
Examination type 120 min. written examination at the end of the term
Literature
Chance, D.M., Brooks, R.: An Introduction to Derivatives and
Risk Management, 8. ed., South-Western, 2009.
Hull, J.C.: Options, Futures, and other Derivatives, 7. ed.,
Prentice Hall, 2009.
Shreve, S.E.: Stochastic Calculus for Finance I: The Binomial
Asset Pricing Model, Springer Finance, 2005.
Strong, R.A.: Derivatives. An Introduction, 2. ed., South-Western,
2004.
Additional information & links
For further information please see the Chair’s home page:
https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Global Economic Governance
Area of study /
Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
Recommended
semester 1-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Tim Krieger Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 Contact hours (SWS) 2 (L)
2 (T)
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Every winter term
Requirements Recommended: good working knowledge of microeconomics and
trade theory
Learning/ qualification
target
In this lecture, students acquire a solid knowledge of the institutions
of global economic governance. Furthermore, they will learn in a
systematic manner how the international economic order evolves in
an environment without supranational government, i.e., how
mechanisms and processes of self-enforcement shape the
international order.
Content
Closed economies can be governed within the national institutional
framework. This is no longer the case in a globalized world with strong
transnational linkages, e.g., through trade or factor mobility. Under
these circumstances, there is a need to establish international rules
that guarantee smooth operation of the global economy. Since there
is no global government, issues such as the enforcement of property
rights in the international arena, the provision of global public goods
or the internalization of cross-border externalities are difficult to
resolve. Setting up a global economic order is therefore a major
challenge because it requires not only the coordination of several
independent actors (i.e., countries), but the establishment of a
coordination mechanism as a first step. Hence, in the course self-
enforcing mechanisms and institutions of global governance will be
discussed and formal economic analysis is applied to the genesis and
functioning of the most important institution of global economic
governance, the World Trade Organization (WTO/GATT).
Examination type
Written Exam: 4 ECTS: To earn 4 ECTS a 60 minutes exam based on the
lecture material has to be passed.
6 ECTS: Written exam (90 minutes)
Literature
Bagwell, K.; Staiger, R.W. (2002): The Economics of the World
Trading System. MIT Press: Cambridge/MA and London.
Hoekman, B.M.; Kostecki, M.M. (2008): The Political Economy of
the World Trading System, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Further readings will be provided before and during the class
Additional information
& links
For further information, please see the chair home page:
http://www.wguth.uni-freiburg.de/aktuelles
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Module Interest Rate Theory and Applications
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
Recommended semester
2nd year Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Dr. Christoph Gerhart
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 ETCS Contact hours (SWS) 2h Lecture 2h Tutorial
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught irregular
Requirements Futures and Options (can be taken in parallel) Principles of Finance (can be taken in parallel)
Learning/ qualification target
Introduction to fixed income markets
Content
This course provides an introduction to fixed income markets. We focus on bootstrapping of yield curves and the pricing of interest-rate sensitive instruments. For this purpose, we will meet the most widely used model approaches such as a short-rate, HJM and market models. The financial crisis causes many changes in the valuation of interest-rate products. For this reason, we address the multiple-curve approach that deals with this new market situation. In addition to the lecture there will be general tutorial where the theoretical methods taught in the lecture will be deepened by exercises as well as practically implemented (mostly in the programming language R) and applied to real data problems.
Examination type 120min written exam at the end of the semester
Literature
Hull, J.C.: Options, Futures, and other Derivatives, 7th ed., Prentice Hall, 2009 Shreve, S.E.: Stochastic Calculus for Finance I: The Binomial Asset Pricing Model, Springer Finance, 2005 Filipovic, D.: Term-Structure Models, Springer Finance, 2009
Additional information & links
For further information see http://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de/studium-und-lehre
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Module International Monetary Economics I
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
2-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Oliver Landmann
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 Contact hours (SWS) 2 (lecture + tutorial)
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Temporarily discontinued
Requirements
Firm Command of Intermediate Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. The following macro text is particularly suitable for preparation: Blanchard/Amighini/Giavazzi (2013): Macroeconomics – A European Perspective, 2nd ed.
Learning/ qualification target
Introduction to basic theories of open economy macroeconomics and international monetary systems
Content
The Basics: the Balance of Payments and the Foreign Exchange Market
Some History Basic Long-Run relations in the Open Economy The Open Economy in the Short Run International Interdependence and Policy Coordination Optimum Currency Area Theory and the Euro
Examination type 2 hour written examination at the end of the semester
Literature mostly journal articles as provided during the lecture
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/news/home
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Module International Monetary Economics II
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
2-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Oliver Landmann
Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS) 3 (L) 1 (T)
Course type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Temporarily discontinued
Requirements Firm Command of Intermediate Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. International Monetary Economics I is advisable, but not required
Learning/ qualification target
Familiarization with advanced topics and current issues of open economy macroeconomics and the international monetary system
Content
The Intertemporal Approach to the Current Account and Capital Flows
Exchange Rates in the Long Run Exchange Rates in the Short Run Currency Crises
Examination type 2 hour written examination at the end of the semester
Literature mostly journal articles as provided during the lecture
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/news/home
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Module Introduction to Empirical Economics Using STATA
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended semester
4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Günther Schulze
Work load Approx. 120 hrs
ECTS (credit points) 4 Contact hours (SWS)
2
Course type Lecture / tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements The successful completion of Intermediate Econometrics or an equivalent course is required (basic statistics is not enough).
Learning/ qualification target
The course introduces to econometrics using the software Stata. Participants will learn to assemble a dataset, write execution code and output the results. Every session will include an exercise part for practicing new material on actual problem sets. The main goal is to provide students with basic knowledge and familiarity with statistical software, which is essential for performing an own empirical analysis (e.g. a master thesis).
Content
Module title Introduction to Empirical Economics using STATA
Examination type Exam
Literature Selected papers, literature list will be available at the beginning of the course.
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
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Module Introduction to Systematic Investment Strategies (Seminar)
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
3rd Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Dr. Sergey Perminov Konstantin Andreyev
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 ECTS Contact hours (SWS) 2h
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught irregular
Requirements Futures and Options (advantageous)
Learning/ qualification target
Designing and implementing systematic investment strategies.
Content
This course is teaching students design and implement systematic investment strategies, which were long restricted to hedge funds and investment banks:
learn, design and program a modern systematic investment
algorithms to capture market's inefficiencies,
use the secret weapon used by Wall Street to incorporate
volumes of data, test strategies, conquer emotional biases, and
beat the market,
learn to utilize Quantopian platform which provides end-to-end
support for algorithmic investing, including algorithm writing,
backtesting with a database of 12 years of historical &
fundamental data, forward testing with live data, paper trading,
Learn to evaluate, optimize and pick the best algorithms, based
on various backtest characteristics.
Examination type
Presentation and seminar paper, 60 min. written examination
The course can be taken as a standalone seminar (4 ECTS) or as a topics course (6 ECTS). The participants will move step by step and every week will be given a small task to complete. At each meeting, randomly selected students will present their work. Students are encouraged to ask questions and discuss relevant points and challenges they are facing in order to improve mutual learning. Students will communicate online and offline with the project supervisors (Beneficious Investment Management) and other students on project-related issues.
Students wishing to earn extra credits, can take the course in the form of a topics course. This will require the same steps as the seminar as well as completion of an individual research based on learned techniques in the seminar and passing a 60min written examination. Individual research will be about exploring the real world phenomena, creating bespoke investment strategy, backtest and optimizing it.
Literature To be announced during seminar
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Additional information & links
For further information please visit our website:
https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Labor Economics Using R
Area of study / Profiles/Profile
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
3rd - 4th semester Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Alexander Spermann
Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 Contact hours (SWS) 2 hours
Course type
Block course (lecture style, case studies and complementary learning videos)
Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements No special requirements
Learning/ qualification target
The course covers empirical labor economics and modern econometrics. It will combine lecture style and practical exercises using R in class.
Content
Modern approach to Econometrics
Fundamental evaluation problem Potential outcome approach Methods: RCT, IV, BAE, DiD, RDD Introduction to Causal Machine Learning Labor Market and Education
Examination type Exam
Literature
- Angrist, J. D., and Pischke, J.: Mastering Metrics, The Path from
Cause to Effect, Princeton University Press, current edition.
- Boeri, T., and Van Ours, J.: The economics of imperfect labor
markets. Princeton University Press, current edition.
- Heiss, F.: Using R for Introductory Econometrics, Düsseldorf,
current edition.
- Wooldridge, J.: Introductory Econometrics, A Modern Approach,
Cengage Learning, current edition.
+ Selected papers
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
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Module Mathematical Methods for Economics and Finance
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
1. to 4. Semester Recommended Semester
1. to 4. Semester
Module Coordinator
Anastasia Golubeva, M.Sc. Markus Epp, M.Sc.
Module Coordinator
Anastasia Golubeva, M.Sc. Markus Epp, M.Sc.
ECTS (credit points)
6 ECTS ECTS (credit points)
6 ECTS
Course Type Lecture Tutorial
Course Type Lecture Tutorial
Frequency taught Winter term
Requirements Good command of calculus and linear algebra at the undergraduate level
Learning / Qualification Target
This lecture is aimed at students of the MSc VWL and MSc Economics (all Profiles) who are at the beginning of their studies. Mathematical tools going beyond the undergraduate level are provided. The lecture will cover a range of relevant mathematical tools and techniques that are typically required for further studies in economics. At the end of the course students should be able to understand and apply these tools. The methods discussed in class help students to read current economic research papers and work with economic models. Thus, they might be able to fully concentrate on the economics in their economic courses. During the semester the students demonstrate and exercise the material with the help of problem sets which are discussed in class.
Content
Linear Algebra Multivariate Calculus Dynamic Systems Analytical and Numerical Optimization
Examination Type Written exam
Literature The lecture makes heavy use of the following book: Knut Sydsæter et. al., 2008, Further Mathematics for Economic Analysis, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall University Press
Additional Information & Links
For further information, please see the chair home page: http://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/news/home
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Module Methods in Dynamic Macroeconomics
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
► 1.-4. Semester
Module coordinator Dr. Marten Hillebrand Mandatory/elective Elective
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Work load 120 hours
Course type Lecture Tutorial
Contact hours (SWS) 2h Lecture 2h Tutorial
Frequency taught Winter term Language English
Requirements Familiarity with linear algebra, calculus, basic optimization methods and probability theory.
Learning/ qualification target
Successful students can
1. solve and simulate systems of difference and differential equations;
2. use dynamic programming using the Bellman operator;
3. apply optimization methods to planning problems and macroeconomic
models; construct numerical algorithms.
Content
1. Mathematical Recap and Introduction to MATLAB
2. Solving and simulating models of
i. Accumulation and Growth
ii. Business Cycles
4. Frictions and Incomplete Markets
Examination type Graded assignments (5)
Literature
Ljungqvist, Lars, and Thomas J. Sargent. Recursive macroeconomic
theory. MIT press, 2018.
Heer, Burkhard, and Alfred Maussner. Dynamic general equilibrium
modeling: computational methods and applications. Springer Science &
Business Media, 2009.
Miranda, Mario J., and Paul L. Fackler. Applied computational economics
and finance. MIT press, 2004;
Miao, Jianjun. Economic dynamics in discrete time. MIT press, 2020.
Sydster, Knut, et al. Further mathematics for economic analysis. Pearson
education, 2008;
Additional information & links
For further information and the full Syllabus please visit our homepage:
https://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/courses
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Module Migration Economics
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended Semester
2nd to 4th semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Tim Krieger Workload 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
2h Lecture
Course Type Lecture Language English
Frequency taught Every summer term
Requirements Intermediate Econometrics, solid knowledge of micro- and macroe-conomics
Learning/ Qualification Target
This lecture gives an introduction to the economics of migration. By the end of the course, students will be able to employ theoretical concepts and empirical methods to discuss a broad array of topics related to migration, such as why people leave, how migration affects destination countries, and how integration works. They will be able to evaluate critically the main arguments regarding consequences and causes of migration from an economic perspective.
Content
Migration has become an increasingly important topic in the international political arena. Globalization processes make workers and students more mobile, while at the same time domestic and international conflicts as well as humanitarian and environmental catastrophes cause flows of refugees and asylum seekers. We will apply theoretical reasoning to current questions concerning the consequences and causes of migration. Among the questions covered are: Why is it useful to study migration? Why do people migrate? Who migrates? How do migrants do? How does the second generation of migrants perform economically? What are the effects of immigration on the destination country? Participation in the seminar “Research Colloquium on Migration Empirics” is recommended but not mandatory. In the seminar, recent empirical publications in the field of migration economics will be evaluated critically focussing on empirical methods.
Examination Type Written exam
Literature
Borjas, G. J. 2014. Immigration Economics. Harvard University Press.
Bodvarsson, Ö. B. and H. Van den Berg. 2013. The Economics of Immigration: Theory and Policy. 2nd edition. Springer
Further readings will be provided before and during class.
Additional Information & Links
The course will be given by Dr. Renner.
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Module Modern Econometrics using R
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
3rd & 4th semester Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Alexander Spermann
Work load 120 hrs
ECTS (credit points) 4 Contact hours (SWS) 2
Course type
Block course (lecture style, case studies and complementary learning videos)
Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Students should install RStudio before the first session.
Learning/ qualification target
The course offers a survey of modern econometrics, which is primarily designed to solve the fundamental evaluation problem. It will combine lecture style and practical exercises using R in class.
Content
- Modern approach to Econometrics
- Fundamental evaluation problem - Potential outcome approach - Methods: OLS, IV, Matching, RCT, BAE, DiD, RDD - Labor Market and Education
Module title Modern Econometrics using R
Examination type Exam
Literature
Angrist, J.D., & Pischke, J. (2015): Mastering ‘Metrics, The Path from Cause to Effect, Princeton University Press.
+ Selected papers
Additional information & links
For further information please see the chair home page: http://www.vwl.uni-freiburg.de/iwipol/teaching.htm
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Module Portfolio Management
Area of study / Profiles
► Finance
Recommended Semester
2nd Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Dr. Eva Lütkebohmert-Holtz
Workload 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
2h Lecture 2h Tutorial
Course Type Lecture
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Principles of Finance (can be taken in parallel), R course (recommendation)
Learning/ Qualification Target
Introduction to security and portfolio analysis, the problem of optimal allocation of assets into a portfolio, as well as the evaluation of investments.
Content
Topics which will be discussed in the lecture include:
classical mean-variance portfolio theory (risk and return, efficient frontier)
determination of equilibrium security returns and prices (CAPM, arbitrage pricing models, empirical tests)
analysis and valuation of securities (such as stocks, bonds, options, etc.)
evaluation of portfolio performance (performance measurement, diversification, active portfolio management)
Examination Type 120 min. written examination at the end of the term
Literature
Elton E., Gruber M., Brown S., Goetzmann W.: Modern Portfolio
Theory and Investment Analysis, 9. ed., Wiley
Chance, D.M., Brooks, R.: An Introduction to Derivatives and
Risk Management, 8. ed., South-Western, 2009.
Hull, J.C.: Options, Futures, and other Derivatives, 7. ed.,
Prentice Hall, 2009.
Bodie, Z., Kane, A., Marcus, A.J. (2011): Investments and
Portfolio Management. 9. ed., McGraw-Hill
Additional Information & Links
For further information please visit our website:
https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de
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Module Research Colloquium on Migration Empirics (Seminar)
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended Semester
2nd to 4th semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Tim Krieger Workload 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
2h seminar
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught Every summer term.
Requirements Intermediate Econometrics, solid knowledge of micro- and macro-economics; participation in the lecture “Economics of Migration” is mandatory
Learning/ Qualification Target
By the end of the course, students will be familiar with empirical concepts and methods in the area of economics of migration, with a special focus on the identification of causal effects. Students will develop the ability to read and understand the content of scientific empirical papers and write (short) critical academic essays.
Content
Migration has become an increasingly important topic in the international political arena. Globalization processes make workers and students more mobile, while at the same time domestic and international conflicts as well as humanitarian and environmental catastrophes cause flows of refugees and asylum seekers. This seminar is conducted as a colloquium that relies on active participation and preparation. In the discussion, we will focus on critically assessing empirical methods and assumptions as well as implications. In every class, we will discuss one or two articles that will be announced the week before. Preparing the required readings carefully and participating actively in the discussion in each class is mandatory. The lecture (Migration Economics) complements the seminar as it
focuses on underlying theoretical concepts.
Examination Type
Seminar paper
Presentation in class
Participation in class
Literature
Borjas, G. J. 2014. Immigration Economics. Harvard University
Press.
Bodvarsson, Ö. B. and H. Van den Berg. 2013. The Economics
of Immigration: Theory and Policy. 2nd edition. Springer
The mandatory readings for every week will be announced in Ilias.
Additional Information & Links
The course will be given by Dr. Renner.
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Module Selected Topics in Institutional Economics and International Economic Policy (Seminar)
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended Semester
1. to 4. semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Tim Krieger Workload 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
2h seminar
Course Type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught Every semester
Requirements Very good working knowledge of theoretical and empirical economics
Learning/ Qualification Target
During the seminar a specific topic in institutional economics and/ or international economic policy will be covered in depth, so students gain a thorough understanding of this topic. At the same time they learn how to approach a specialized field of study and how to write and present a seminar paper. These skills are particularly helpful for eventually writing the Master’s thesis.
Content Seminar topics change every semester.
Examination Type
Seminar paper
Presentation
Participation in the general discussion.
Literature Selected readings which change every semester.
Additional Information & Links
Seminar topics change every semester.
There may be other lecturers in addition to or instead of Prof.
Krieger.
Further information (including each semester’s seminar topic) can
be found on the homepage of Prof. Krieger’s chair:
http://www.wguth.uni-freiburg.de/lehre-abschlussarbeiten
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Module Selected Topics in International and Development Economics (Seminar)
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended semester
3rd - 4th semester Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Günther Schulze
Work load 180h
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 ECTS Contact hours (SWS)
2h seminar
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements good command of intermediate econometrics
Learning/ qualification target
The seminars cover changing topics in the field of international and development economics in depth. Students are introduced to the relevant literature and learn to understand how economic theory and econometric methods can be applied to the context of the respective seminar
Content Changing topics, e.g. political economy, corruption…
Examination type
Seminar paper
Presentation
Participation in the general discussion.
For 6 ECTS: discussion of the presentation held by another
student
Literature Selected papers, literature list will be available at a first meeting.
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
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Module Seminar in Quantitative Finance
Area of study /
Profile
► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended
semester 2nd year Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Eva
Lütkebohmert-Holtz Work load 120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Contact hours
(SWS) 2
Course type Seminar Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Principles of Finance, Futures and Options (can be taken in
parallel)
Learning/
qualification target
Seminars on different topics in quantitative finance will be offered
every winter term. Topics may include but are not limited to the
following fields: - Portfolio management
- Derivative pricing
- Advanced financial modelling
- Credit and liquidity risk
- Risk management
Participants are expected to be familiar with basic principles of
risk-neutral valuation in discrete time as well as with some standard
financial derivatives (e.g. through successful participation in the
courses Principles of Finance and Futures and Options). Moreover,
some knowledge in probability theory is required
Examination type Oral presentation and seminar paper
Literature Will be announced on ILIAS.
Additional
information & links https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de/
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Module Seminar Series in Finance (Seminar)
Area of study/Profile ► Finance
Recommended
semester
Current master,
diploma and PhD
students of the
Department of
Quantitative Finance
Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Eva
Lütkebohmert-Holtz Work load
ECTS (credit points) none Contact hours
(SWS)
Course type Seminar Language English
Rotation Every semester
Learning/
qualification target Presentation and discussion of own research work
Content
The seminar is intended for current master, diploma and PhD
students of the Department of Quantitative Finance. Students have
the possibility to present their research work and to discuss
potential problems with the other members of the department.
Presentations are based on individual invitation only.
With a participation in this seminar you cannot earn ECTS. Should
you be interested in holding a presentation or joining the audience,
please register at the secretariat of the department.
Literature Will be discussed individually
Additional
information & links https://www.finance.uni-freiburg.de/
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Module Statistical Learning
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► Finance
► ISNE
Recommended Semester
3rd semester Mandatory/Elective Elective
Module Coordinator Workload 180 h
ECTS (credit points) 6 ECTS Contact Hours (SWS)
3 SWS lecture 1 SWS exercise
Course Type Lecture
Exercise session Language English
Frequency taught Discontinued, might be offered again.
Requirements Intermediate Econometrics
Learning/ Qualification Target
Learn set of tools for modeling complex datasets; goal is mainly prediction of quantitative or qualitative outcomes.
Content
1. Introduction 2. Statistical Learning 3. Linear Regression 4. Classification 5. Resampling Methods 6. Linear Model Selection and Regularization 7. Tree-Based Methods 8. Support Vector Machines 9. Unsupervised Learning
Notes: The exercise session will contain both theoretical
exercises as well as applied exercises, which involve analyzing
datasets using the statistical software R. Knowledge of the
statistical software R is an advantage, but is not required.
Examination Type Final Exam (90 min.)
Literature
This course is based on the textbook “An Introduction to Statistical Learning with Applications in R” (2013, corrected printing 2017) by Gareth James, Daniela Witten, Trevor Hastie, and Robert Tibshirani; Springer.
Additional Information & Links
This textbook is freely available: http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~gareth/ISL/ISLR%20Seventh%20Printing.pdf
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Module The Economics of Terror
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended semester
3-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Schulze Work load 180 h
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 Contact hours (SWS)
2 h Reading course 2 h Tutorial
Course type Reading Course & tutorial
Language English
Frequency taught irregular
Requirements Intermediate Econometrics, solid knowledge of micro- and macroeconomics
Learning/ qualification target
Students should familiarize themselves with the economic approach to analyzing terrorism. They should be able to understand, evaluate and critically analyze research articles on the economics of terror and understand the methodological concepts used.
Content
1. Overview 2. Causes of terror, such as poverty, political regime, religious
composition 3. Consequences of terror (economic, political, macro, sector and
micro) 4. Counterterrorism policies 5. Conclusion
Examination type Exam
Literature Selected papers, literature list will be available at the beginning of the course
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
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Module The Long Term Determinants of Economic Development
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
Recommended semester
3-4 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Günther Schulze
Work load 120 (180) hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 Contact hours (SWS)
2h Reading Couse 2h Tutorial
Course type Reading Course
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Good command of econometrics
Learning/ qualification target
The reading course enables students to understand the fundamental causes of economic growth and the debate about it, to analyze the methodological challenges in addressing the arguably most fundamental question in economics – what fundamentally causes economies to develop and why are some countries falling behind? And to understand the empirical approaches that have been taken.
Content
Why is North America wealthier than South America? Why is Africa the poorest continent in the world? Why is Northern Europe more prosperous than Southern and Eastern Europe? Is it because of culture? Is it religion? Geography? Is it that some countries have better institutions than others? And if yes, why do not all countries have good institutions? This reading course reviews the empirical evidence on the debate about the long term determinants of economic development. Examples of the hypotheses reviewed are historical changes of institutions, colonialism, slavery, religion, culture, geography, ethnic diversity, artificial borders, or the resource curse.
Examination type Exam
Literature Selected papers, literature list will be available at the beginning of the seminar
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
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Module The Political Economics of Information and Media
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics ► ISNE
Recommended semester
3rd & 4th semester Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Schulze Work load 180 hours
ECTS (credit points) 4 or 6 ECTS Contact hours (SWS)
2h Reading Course 2h Tutorial
Course type Reading Course
Tutorial Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Intermediate Econometrics, solid knowledge of micro- and macroeconomics
Learning/ qualification target
Students learn about the role of information and the media for the behavior of individuals in the marketplace, in the polity, and in bureaucratic hierarchies. They are familiarized with the empirical approaches that analyze the relationship between the individual behavior and media presence or the availability of information.
Content
media and voting behavior
media and resignation probabilities
media and corruption
information and social attitudes
violence against journalists and the media and other topics
Module title The Political Economics of Information and Media
Examination type Exam 4 ECTS – 90 minutes 6 ECTS – 120 minutes
Literature Selected papers, literature list will be available at the beginning of the course
Additional information & links
https://www.iep.uni-freiburg.de/teaching
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Module Time Series Analysis
Area of study/Profile
► Economics and Politics
► Finance ► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended semester
2 Mandatory/elective Elective
Module coordinator Prof. Dr. Roxana Halbleib
Work load Approx. 240 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6 Contact hours (SWS)
Lecture (2 SWS) Tutorial (2 SWS)
Course type 1 Lecture 1 Computer Tutorial
Language English
Frequency taught Every Summer term
Requirements Statistics, Econometrics
Learning/ qualification target
This course aims at endowing students with the necessary econometric knowledge and tools for undergoing empirical research on data observed and sampled regularly in time, i.e. time series data.
Content
The course covers the fundamentals of time series analysis (TSA) with emphasis on both theoretical foundations and empirical applications. The students learn to exploit the correlation (dependency) in time specific to time series economic variable (e.g., GDP growth rate, inflation rate, interest rate, financial returns) in order to provide accurate predictions and/or to detect (time) causalities within each series and among various economic variables. In particular, the course covers topics from univariate and multivariate TSA, such as ARIMA and vector ARMA processes, estimation, forecasting, Granger causality, impulse response functions, etc. Besides a good understanding of the theoretical foundations and their strengths and limitations, students learn to practically apply the econometric tools specific to TSA to real economic problems (e.g., from macroeconomics, finance) during the computer tutorials by using the software Phtyon.
Examination type Final Exam (90 minutes)
Literature
Enders, W. (2014): Applied Econometric Time Series, 4th edition, Wiley
Hamilton (1994): Time Series Analysis, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Hayashi (2000): Econometrics, Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Lütkepohl, H. & Krätzig, M. (2004): Applied Time Series Econometrics, Cambridge University Press
Lutkepohl (2006): New Introduction to Multiple Time Series, Springer, Heidelberg.
Additional information & links
Website: http://www.econometrics.uni-freiburg.de/teaching Course material can be downloaded from ILIAS (https://ilias.uni-freiburg.de/login.php). For further material, updates, and relevant information, please keep checking ILIAS.
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Module Topics in Macroeconomics
Area of study / Profiles
► Economics and Politics
► Finance
► Information Systems and Network Economics
Recommended Semester
2-4 Mandatory/Elective
Elective
Module Coordinator Prof. Oliver Landmann
Markus Epp MSc
Workload
120 hours
ECTS (credit points) 6
Contact Hours (SWS)
2
Course Type Topics Course Seminar
Language English
Frequency taught Irregular
Requirements Advanced Macroeconomics I or Advanced Mathematics
Learning/Qualification Target
Familiarization with Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics
Content Current Issues in Macroeconomics
Examination Type Presentation plus assignments
Literature Research papers (tba)
Additional Information & Links For further information please see the chair home page:
http://www.macro.uni-freiburg.de/news/home
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5. Exchange and Studying Abroad
Study abroad is a great opportunity for enrichment and personal development. Studying
abroad is becoming more and more important for opportunities on the job market. The
international exchange programs offered by the faculty and the University of Freiburg offer
many opportunities to spend part of your studies in Europe or other areas in the world.
The recommended period for a semester abroad or year depends on the individual study
situation. Typically, study abroad takes place in the third semester of the course studies. The
preparation and planning period is about 10-12 months (gathering information, planning,
making decisions, adhering to application deadlines, etc.).
With the Foreign Office of the Department of Economics, the faculty has an advisor and
coordination office for study abroad. With over 30 partners in Europe, the US and Brazil, there
is a wide range of exchanges available to students. The International Office is the primary
contact for all questions and inquiries. The International Office also has communication and
contracts with partner universities worldwide. Further information about exchange programs,
current information, events, contact details, are available at http://portal.uni-freiburg.de/vwl-
international.
For more information: https://portal.uni-freiburg.de/vwl-international
EUCOR exchange program:
Additionally, all students of the Master of Economics Program can enjoy of the EUCOR
program, by which they can take any course at the Universities of three different countries:
Germany Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT),
Switzerland: Universität Basel,
France: Université de Haute-Alsace, Université de Strasbourg
For more information about the EUCOR program: http://www.studium.uni-
freiburg.de/en/counseling/exchange-programs-and-studying-abroad/eucor?set_language=en
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Partner Universities and exchange places
Country University Places M.Sc.
Belgium Universität Gent 8 x 10 Months X
Brazil University of Sao Paulo 3 x 6 Months X
Bulgaria University of Economics Varna 3 x 6 Months X
Finnland Hanken School of Economics ( 1 Platz am Campus Helsinki, 1 Platz am Campus Vasa)
2 x 6 Months X
France
Université Jean Moulin (Lyon III) 2 x 10 Months X
Institut Catholique de Paris 2 x 10 Months X
Université des Antilles et de la Guyane 2 x 5 Months X
Université Pierre Mendès (Grenoble II) 2 x 10 Months X
Greece Ioannina University 2 x 10 Months X
Italy
Universita degli Studi di Bologna 4 x 10 Months X
Università degli Studi di Roma 2 x 10 Months X
Università di Siena 2 x 6 Months X
Università degli Studi di Torino 2 x 5 Months X
Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Mailand) 2 x 10 Months X
Norway UMB Ås 2 x 10 Months X
Poland Szkola Glowna Handlowa, Warschau 2 x 10 Months X
Portugal Universidade de Lisboa 3 x 6 Months X
Romania Universitatea Iasi 2 x 5 Months X
Sweden
Göteborgs Universitet 1 x 5 Months X
Karlstads Universitet 2 x 5 Months X
Lunds Universitet 1 x 5 Months X
Switzerland
Université de Genève 2 x 9 Months X
Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano 2 x 5 Months X
Turkey
Middle East Technical University Ankara 3 x 5 Months X
Piri Reis University Istanbul 2 x 6 Months X
Hungary
Andrássy Universität Budapest 2 x 10 Months X
Westungarische Universität Sopron 2 x 5 Months X
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6. Master Thesis
The Master Thesis is written at the end of the Masters Degree. The Thesis is a written
assignment with 35 pages and 24 ECTS points and will at least take 20 weeks. The Master
thesis can be started, when 80 ECTS points are reached.
7. Advisory Services
For further information regarding the M.Sc. Economics Program you can visit our faculty
homepage, or you can send us an email.
MEP Coordination Office:
http://master.econ.uni-freiburg.de/
Questions about the application process: mep.admission@vwl.uni-freiburg.de
Questions about the rules and procedures of the program: mep.admin@vwl.uni-
freiburg.de
General counseling and advice about the program: : mep @vwl.uni-freiburg.de
Actual Information of the Department of Economics:
https://portal.uni-freiburg.de/vwl/aktuell/nachrichten
Chairs and Institutes:
https://portal.uni-freiburg.de/vwl/institute
Examination Office:
http://portal.uni-freiburg.de/pa-vwl/willkommen-bei-der-geschaeftsstelle-fuer-
wirtschaftswissenschaftliche-pruefungsausschuesse?set_language=en
International Exchange programs of the Department of Economics:
o https://portal.uni-freiburg.de/vwl-international
o Announcement of current exchange places of the Department
o Support of incoming students in the Department of Economics
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8. Further Information
International Programs Office:
International Office of the University: http://www.international.uni-
freiburg.de/en?set_language=en
o Counseling for studies abroad.
o EUCOR program: http://www.studium.uni-
freiburg.de/en/counseling/exchange-programs-and-studying-
abroad/eucor?set_language=en
Student Service Center - International Admissions and Services
https://www.studium.uni-freiburg.de/en/application/international-student-admissions
Admission and registration of international students
Advice on opportunities for studying and requisites at the University of Freiburg
Questions about the equivalence of studies from Universities in other countries
Legal advice for foreigners.
Student Service Centrer –
https://www.studium.uni-freiburg.de/en/student-services
Registration Office
Matriculation (enrollment)
Leave Of Absence
Changing Fields/Courses of Study
Exmatriculation
Maternity Protection for Pregnant and Nursing Students
Study Fees
UniCard
Offers for Beginning Students
Certificates of Enrollment
Dates, Deadlines & Events
Campus Management
Student health
Student Service Center - Career Services
https://www.studium.uni-freiburg.de/en/counseling
Advice about internships in Germany and abroad
Check of application materials
Career advice for students
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82
EURES: Advice about career entry in countries of the EU
Scholarship advice
SWFr: Studierendenwerk Freiburg
https://www.swfr.de/en/
New in Freiburg
Housing
Jobs
Food and drinks
International Club for students
Child care
Psychotherapy services for services
Legal advice
Social advice
Students with Handicap
See also: https://portal.uni-freiburg.de/vwl/studium/beratung
http://www.studium.uni-freiburg.de/service_und_beratungsstellen
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